Electric igniter for internal-combustion engines.



No. 736,734. 4 PATJJNTED AUG.'18, 190s.

'L.JONES. ELECTRIC IGN'ITER FOE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. 1903. N0 MODEL. I 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1k .I if:f[I gmmgwkt i 11 i I l I alitozuuts "me New You n cy No. 736,734. IPATENTED AUG. 18, 1903.

' L. JONES. v ELECTRIC IGNITER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21.1903.

N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N i "ll 7 ivwmwfoz I wi/hwoam I No. 736,734. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903. L.JONES.

ELECTRIC IGNITER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION TILED FEB. 21, 1903.

4 SHEETS-$113313 NO MODEL.

1 No. 736,734. I PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903.

" L. JONES.

ELECTRIC IGNITBR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 4' SHEETS-SHEET 4.

(Q I I 1 K n vanfoz Patented August 18, 1903.

PATENT OFFIGE.

LEIVIS JONES, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

ELECTRIC IGNITER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent N o. 796,734, dated August18, 1903. Application filed-February 21. 19Q3. Serial No. 1.44.521 (Nomodel.)

T0 to whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS JONES, a citizen of the United States,residing at WVashington, in the District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new anduseful Improvements in Electric Igniters for InternalCombustion Eugines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. i

My invention relates to electric igniters for internal-combustionengines; and it consists of a small dynamo (either direct or alternatingcurrent) operated by a dash-pot intermittently and only when current isneeded to ignite the gaseous charge in the engine-cylinder.

The object of'my invention is to produce a strong electricsparkindependent of the speed of the engine, so that when .the engine isturned slowly by hand, as in starting, the generator will give offcurrent and a consequent spark of the same strength as if the enginewere running at full speed and that the generator may remain entirely atrest, except the short interval when the spark is needed, therebyreducing the wear and tear on same and the power consumed in operating.A high rate of speed has been required to produce the current, so thatit is diflicult.

to start the engineby hand, while the use of generators capable ofproducingthe required sparks at a lower rate of speed necessitates suchan increase of size in the generator as to make them objectionable fromtheir cost, the amount of room which they occupy, and the necessity ofemploying speed-multiplying devices for use in operating by hand untilthe normal speed of the engine is obtained. Again, the commutators ofsmall generators wear out with great rapidity when kept constantly inmotion at a high rate of speed and have to be replaced frequently, as doalso the brushes. The bearings wear awaywith great rapidity, and whenthe generator runs upon a closed circuit it absorbs an objectionablepercentage of the power of the engine.

With these objects in View my invention consistsin revolutions of thegenerator by the action of a dash-pot or similar means geared thereto bya quadrant or a toothed rack, giving a positive motion and insuring aspark of sufficient intensity to absolutely secure the ignition of thegaseous charge by a single movement of the dash-pot, and the generatoris allowed to remain entirely at rest during the interval when nocurrent is required.

My invention also consists in certain other novel features and incombination of parts, which will be first fully described and afterwardsspecifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an enlarged view inelevation of the various parts of my improved igniting device. .Fig. 2is an elevation of a gas-en'- gine with my igniting device in one formattached. Fig. 4 shows the modified form shown in Fig. 3 attachedto agas-engine.

Like letters of reference indicate the same parts throughout the severalfigures, in which- A is a magneto or electric generator of any approvedtype, and b is a pinion loosely journaled on the armature-shaft, whichcarriesa series of pawls b, and b is a ratchet secured on thearmature-shaft and engaged by said pawls. V O is a dash-pot arranged inany suitable manner, or in place thereof I may employ a spring or anylike device. I

d is a hook on the rack-stem of the dashpot, (shown in Figs. 1 and 2,)which engages a hook E on a reciprocating part of the engine.

f is an adjustable releasing device secured to an engine, which isadapted to be struck by a downwardly-inclined portion E on the hookportion E on the return stroke of said reciprocating part.

In the modification, Gr is a quadrant, which is connected to the stem G2of the dash-pot C, the teeth on the quadrant G, meshing in those onpinion b, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The above-mentioned mechanism assembled and mounted on or near'theengine and electrically connected to the spark-plug in thecombustion-chamber its operation is as producing a current bya few rapidFig. 3 is a modification of Fig. 1.

follows: Beginning with the piston G of the (lash-pot O at its extremeinward travel the engine is turned, and the hook E on the engine,preferablya part of the engine making a double stroke for eachexplosion, engages with hook d on the rack-stem G of the dashpot G anddraws the piston outward. During this outward motion the pinion brevolves on the armature shaft. When the outward stroke is completed,the releasing device f is struck by the downwardly-inclined portion E,which lifts hook E out of engagement, which allows the piston andrack-stem of the dash-pot to recede, rapidly revolving the pinion b inthe direction that brings the ratchet and pawls into engagement anddrives the armature several revolutions, sufficient to produce a violentspark or series of sparks in the engine-cylinder, which explodes thegaseous charge. The releasing devicefis made adjustable to allow thecorrect timing of the explosion.

In Fig. 3 a slight modification of construction is shown. A quadrant Gis used to communicate the motion to the armature instead of a toothedrack. A slotH in said quadrant is provided for the releasing device f,and a similar slot I is provided for the rod-engaging device at, and aportion is cut out of the reciprocating part to form a shoulder E to beengaged by the device (1, said releasing and engaging devices beingarranged for adjustmeut to allow the stroke of the engine and theigniting device to be accommodated to each other. The adjustablereleasing device is placed on the opposite side of the quadrant to thatof the engaging device, so that when the quadrant oscillates thereleasing device f will come in contact with the extended end ofshoulder E and raise the same so as to release the oscillating part atthe proper time.

Having thus fully set forth my invention, I do not wish to be understoodas limiting myself to the exact construction herein set forth, asvarious slight changes may be made in form and construction which wouldfall within the limit and scope of my invention,

and I consider myself clearly entitled to all such changes andmodifications.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to protect by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is

1. The combination with an engine of an electric generator, a rotatingarmature therefor, means for rotating said armature; means fordetachably connecting said rotating means to a reciprocating part of theengine, and means for moving said rotating means, when said means isdetached from said reciprocating part.

2. The combination with ages-engine of an electric generator, a rotatingarmature therefor, means for rotating said armature, means forconnecting said rotating means to a reciprocating part of the engine, anadjustable releasing device for disconnecting said rotating means fromsaid reciprocating part, and means for moving said rotating means whenthus disconnected.

3. The combination with a gas-engine and rotating-armature generator ofa dash-pot, of a toothed rack adapted to gear said dash-pot to thearmature-shaft, and means for causing a rapid rotation of the armatureby a single return stroke of the dash-pot.

4. The combination with a gas-engine and rotating-armature generatorwith a dash-pot geared thereto, a stem for said dash-pot adapted toengage with a moving part of the engine, means for causing the hook tobecome disengaged at any desired point, said dashpot causing the pistonto recede quickly and rotate the armature at a high rate of speed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS JONES. Witnesses:

HERBERT C. EMERY, (J. HUGH DUFFY.

